Improvement in fluid-pressure regulators



Gjuoss. Fluid Pressure Regulator.

No. 219,114. Pa'fented Sept. 2, 1879.

UNITED ."STnTEs PATENT OEE-10E GEORGE Ross7 OR TROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT INV FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,114, dated September 2, 1879 application filed May 1o, 1879. y

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, GEORGE ROSS, of Troy, county of' Rensselaer, and State of New York, have `invented lcertain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Pressurc Reducers, of`

which the following isla full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of refer-` ence marked thereon. Figure 1 is a vertical section illustrating an vapparatus embodying myimpro'vemeuts, the viewbeing taken upon aplane passing through the axis of the valve-stem. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a form of valve or packing therefor different from that of Fig. 1, and also illustrating one lneans of adjusting the ten-` sion of' the loading-spring. Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, horizontal sections upon planes passing through lines at x and yy of the other figures.

Like letters in all the figures indicate corre- 'spo'nding parts.

1n the transmission of fluids under pressure it is frequently desirable and oftentimes of very great importance that at some one or `more points of the conduit the pressure shall be less than at other points; and it is of like desirability and importance that some automatically-operating means be adopted for maintaining the pressure within suitable limits without wasting ,the iuid. Y

Without attempting to mention all the circumstances of transmission (which would be practically impossible) to which the application of theprinciples o f myinven tion `will be found speciallyT advantageous, the following most prominent circumstancesare alluded to in order to afford a clear idea of the character, scope, utility, and adaptation of my improve- A ments.

Acapable of withstandinga pressure per square inch equal to that which may be at any time exerted withinthe mains, and this, of course, involves the use of heavier and more expensive conduits or piping proportionately as the main pressure is greater, to say nothing of the necessity of compensating for the water-hammering to which all service-pipes are liable, or of the precautions essential against'damage by leakage, which damage is certain to increase with the main pressure.

- Similarly in various systems of water-distribution calculated more especially for fire service, wherein an extraordinary pressure is maintained, it is of marked importance, for oblvious reasons, that in some of the conduits the pressure be lower than in others.

' InA the distribution of gas for lighting purposes, steam for heating and other uses, air under pressure, and generally all liquids or gases, the application of my improvements will be found of markedvalue.

`It is, therefore, the purpose or object of my invention to provide a mechanical device which, being located at any point within the iiuidconduit, will lautomatically prevent the fluidpressure beyond it from exceeding any certain predetermined.pressure per square inch independently ofthe pressure within that part of the conduit from which the fluid is conducted, and this without necessitating the wasting or discharging of anyof the fluid.

To accomplish this, the invention consists in certain new and useful peculiarities of construction and relative` arrangements or ,com-

binations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter rst fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A indica-tes the inlet to the pressure-reducing apparatus from the mainV pipes, reservoir, or other vessel in which the fluid may be contained; and B is the outlet of the apparatus, intended to be connected with the pipes or other vessels within which it Amay be desired that the pressure shall not exceed a certain amount. Y

The two channels GV and D communicate with each other at top and bottom, rbefore the valves or disks are looated,) as plainly shown. They (the channels) are formed in the casing of the apparatus, and parallel with each other, thus avoiding the use of any return-pipe, and making the device simple and easy lto construct, as well as compact and durable. Within the compartment Cl is located a spindle, E, which carries near its upper end the two disks F and G, and below the lower opening into D a third disk, H, all of which are made to lit nicely against the walls of the chambers in which they are placed. Within a third chamber, I, directly in line with C, is located the loading-spring K, so arranged as to bear against disk H or some part of the spindle connected therewith. The chamber I is of the same diameter as channel (l, so that the three disks are of like superficial area, and each in its movements is like a piston in an elongated cylinder, by which great accuracy vmay be secured.

The opening from inlet A into chamber C is slightly contracted, and communicates with a groove or furrow, a, formed in the walls of chamber C, so that the fluid from the inlet lnay pass around valve Gr and the stem, and iind its way freely into outlet B, until valve G is carried down in its chamber below said groove or'furrow. This contraction of the inlet-opening beyond the limits of the outletopening, and leaving the latter always free of any obstruction-that is, unobstructed by any valve or disk-is an important feature of the construction, tending to insure a uniformity of How and equality of fluid-pressure, as well as greater sensitiveness of the valve-system than could otherwise occur. rI he enlarged and uninterrupted outlet affords a practically non-resisting passage for all fluid which may enter'at the inlet, and thus the llow through the apparatus will not be subjected to the variations which may occur in the velocity of the incoming duid, since as fast as anyenters the apparatus it will find a free and ample passageway to operate upon the valves or to enter the service-pipes in ease the pressure be not too great. Were this outletl made small in comparison with the inlet, the fluid in the space between the two ports would be subjected to all the pulsations in the incoming iluid, and the outlet would offer a frictional'resistance, which would have to be overcome before the valves could be moved. This, in addition to destroying the sensitiveness and accuracy of the apparatus, would increase the tendency to wear 'away the walls of the port, especially when passing muddy water, and would lenhance the liability to clog up the outlet with such sediment as could come through thel inlet without obstruction. The enlarged outlet obviates all these difficulties, is in a location to afford the most convenient access of passingy fluid to the service-pipes, and renders it possible and easy to construct the apparatus on a i small scale, which is advantageous 4in economy of material, as well as in the matter ot' setting up or fitting to place, and in saving of room.

Now, as to the operation of the device so constructed, it is apparent that'ifthe spring be removed, any pressure whatever which may be exerted in the outlet B and chamber D (this pressure being at all times precisely the same as that in the piping' within which it is desired there shall be no more than a given amount) will tend to drive the disks downward and to carry disk Gr below the inlet-open ing. When this disk passes below the opening its further movement is arrested by some suitable form of stop or guard, andthere will then be one valve, F, above and one, G, below the inlet, elfectually cutting of the further flow of fluid; and as soon as this cutting off takes place. no further increase of pressure can occur. rThe downward movement of the stem with its disks is due to the fact that there are two equal surfaces exposed to the downward pressure and but one'to the upward pressure, as is plainly shown.

When the loading-spring is properly placed so as to press upwardly against the system of valves or disks, it is clear that before the inlet can be closed the tension of the spring must be first overcome by the pressure in B and D, and this affords an opportunity to limit the possible pressure within those chambers, and consequently within the piping beyond, with a great degree of accuracy.

The tension of the loading-spring may be controlled or adjusted by any suitable contri- Vance, one of which is indicated in Fig. 2,

'wherein a set-screw, c, bears against a washer,

d, upon which the spring rides. Its operation is easily understood. In this figure (2) the movement of the valve-stem is arrested at the proper point by reason of the interposition of the shoulder y in the path of the lower disk.

The more accurately the disks are made to iit their casings the more perfect will be the operation of the device. Any style of packing may be employed. Forordinary uses'that shown in Fig. l will be found to give excellent results. p

In Fig. 2 the disks are provided with cuppackings of leather or other flexible material,

`properly secured in place, and so as to be forced to expand against the casing by the fluid-pressure thereon.

`The apparatus is intended to be coupled with the conduits at the point where it is desired that the reduction of pressure shall commence. N especial form of coupling is shown, since any may beadopted.

rlhe operation of the device, as previously explained, is entirely independent ofthe pressure upon the inlet side. This pressure may be of any degree Whatevenand' if the loadingspring is properly set the inlet will be closed when the desired pressure. is attained upon the other side.

` The spring might be replaced by some other mechanical means which would afford the required resistanee to the play of the valve-stem.

The invention is to be distinguished from all such devices as safety-valves in which, in order to control the pressure, it is necessary to provide an escape for the fluid, vwhich will be opened whenever acertain degree is reached, and from all such regulators as employ a valve which controls the outlet-opening or in which the chamber forming the cylinder for the balanced pistons and into which the inllowing .fluid is received is not in communication at top and bottom with theoutlet side of the ap paratus, or in Which the pressure is exerted against a diaphragm.

My apparatusinvolves no Waste of duid Whatever. When constructed andarranged substantially in accordance with the foregoing' explanations the improved apparatusl will be found to admirably answer the several purposes and objects of the invention as previously stated; and, further, it will be found durable, simple, and not liable to get out of order. It 'is entirely automatic in its several operations, opening the inlet Whenever the pressure on the outlet side is reduced belonr the'determined maximum, (as Whenever Water, or gas, Ste., is drawn from the seryice-pipes,) and gradually closing the port without shock whenever `the maximum is reached.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an apparatus of the character and for the purposes `herein specied, the combination, with the valve-chamber open at top and bottom, of the`parallel channel communicating therewith at both ends, the three 4pistons or disks having equal surfaces mounted upon a singlestem and adapted to vbe moved Wby the reduced pressure upon the outlet side ot' the apparatus or by t-he loadin g-sprin g, thus controlling the size of the contracted inlet-port and leaving the enlarged outlet unimpeded, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the inlet A, outlet B, parallel chambers O D, communicating' at top and bottom, chamber I, pistons` F G H, balanced with respect to the inlet-pressure, `of

equal diameters, and adapted to regulate the size ot' the inlet While the size of the outlet remains unchanged, and an incased loading spring, the arrangement being substantially as explained, so as to insure the cutting oft' of the inowing duid by appressure upon the outlet side less' than that Within the main sup; ply-tube, as shown and described.

3. The combination of inlet A, chamber G, groovedrabout the contracted inlet-portpar allel chamber D, communicating therewith at top and bottom, chamber' I, pistons F `Gr H, balanced with respect` to the inlet-pressure, and adapted to regulate the size ofthe inlet while the size of the outlet remains unchanged, spring K, located in chamberI I, adjusting device c d, and enlarged outlet B, the whole beingarranged within a suitable casing, and otherwise constructed and arranged. to operate substantially in the mannerset forth.

In testimony that I claim the tbregoingpl have hereunto set my hand and` seal in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE Ross. L. s]

Witnesses l WORTH Oscoop, S. W. HoLooMB. 

